Wiener skinning devices



Jan. 28, 1958 D. J. ELLEFSON WIENER SKINNING DEVICES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 8. 1954 m mi mm om hm R PNVENTOR Jan. 28,1958 D. J. ELLEFSON 2,820,982

WIENER SKINNING DEVICES" Filed Oct. 8 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I IMVENTOD Dan t el .I ELlefson J. 28, 1958 D. J. ELLEFSON WIENER sxnmm; DEVICES 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filad 001'. 8, 1954 INV ENTOR Dqn' el. J. Ellef on l m: an

Jan. 28, 1958 D. J. ELLEFSON WIENER sxmnmc DEVICES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 8, 1954 o: as

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\Q g V INVENTOR aniel. I [[2 son United States Patent WIENER SKINNING DEVICES Daniel J. Ellefson, St. Vital, Manitoba, Canada Application October 8, 1954, Serial No. 461,235

3 Claims. (Cl. 17-1) My invention relates to new and useful improvements in skinning devices for meat products, the principal object and essence of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described whereby adjacently connected products such as wieners, may be separated and skinned in one operation.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which includes means for severing the strings encircling adjacent wieners, separating adjacent wieners and then skinning the individual wieners all in one continuous process.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which enables the skinning of these products, such as wieners, to be carried out continuously and automatically, thus decreasing materially the labour involved in skinning such products.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is economical in manufacture, simple in operation, and otherwise well suited to the purpose for which it is designed.

With the foregoing objects in view, and such other objects and advantages as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates as this specification proceeds, my invention consists essentially in the arrangement and construction of parts all as hereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of my device with some parts removed for clarity.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of my device with parts broken away.

Figure 3 is an enlarged section substantially along the lines 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an end elevation of the peeling wheel per se partly broken away.

Figure 5 is a vertical diametrical view of the device of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the cutting arm assembly with some parts in section.

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the knife assembly.

Figure 8 is a side view of the Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary side elevation of the knife assembly showing the engaging of same by the arm assembly.

Figure 10 is an enlarged side view of one of the arms.

Figure 11 is an enlarged top plan view of one of the arms.

Figure 12 is a side elevation of the inner jaw of the arm assembly.

Figure 13 is a top plan view of Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a top plan view of the outer member of the arm assembly.

1 a Figure 17 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of one of the scissor operating plates per se.

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In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

The conventional method of manufacturing meat products such as wieners consists of extruding the product into a tubular skin, tying off the skin at intervals to form a link, processing same in conventional smokehouses and the like, and then separating and skinning the individual links manually. The last operation, namely the packaging thereof, is an extremely arduous and time-consuming process and heretofore has been done entirely by manual means. The device hereinafter to be described is designed specifically for cutting the strings between the links, separating the links, and finally removing the skin therefrom, so that the skinned and separating links are then ready f packaging.

Proceeding first to describe my device generally, reference character 20 indicates rectangular framework within which the device is situated, and 21 indicates the base thereof which supports bearing blocks 22 at intervals within which is adapted to be rotatably supported a shaft 23.

This shaft carries various drive wheels hereinafter to be described, as well as part of the peeling wheel assembly collectively designated 24.

Above shaft 23 is situated a framework designated 25 carrying a roller conveyor assembly collectively designated 26 through which the product (not illustrated) is adapted to pass. An arm Wheel assembly collectively designated 27 is situated along this conveyor adapted to cut the strings encircling the constriction between adjacent links, followed by a knife assembly collectively designated 28 adapted to sever adjacent links, whereupon same are conveyed to the peeling wheel assembly hereinbefore mentioned, which grasps the open end of the skin encircling the forward end of the meat product, which product is then rotated in one direction while the peeling wheel rotates in the other direction, thus peeling the skin from the meat product with a spiralling action.

More specifically, the framework 20 is substantially rectangular when viewed in plan and when viewed in side elevation and consists of the afore-mentioned base 21, ends 29, and sides 30. In the present embodiment, there are four bearing blocks 22 illustrated to carry shafts 23 and 107, the former shaft 23 carrying a main drive pulley 31 secured thereto for rotation and having a belt 32 extending therearound and to a source of power exemplified by an electric motor 33, which supplies rotation to the shaft 23.

A skew gear 34 is secured to shaft 23 and rotated thereby, engageable by a further skew gear 35 carried upon shaft 36, which shaft also carries belt pulley 37 secured thereto and rotatable thereby. A belt 38 extends around pulley 37 and around a pulley 39 which in turn is keyed to a transverse shaft 4%. This shaft 40, being part of the conveyor 25, is mounted for rotation within side plates 41 and also carries a further pulley 42 keyed thereto.

The conveyor 25 is enclosed within a rectangular frame 43 and includes an upper product-moving wheel 44, which is concave as illustrated. Below this wheel 44 and supported within the rectangular frame 43 for free rotation, is a plurality of concave roilers 45, mounted upon spindles 46, it being understood that theproduct is adapted to pass below wheel 44 and run on the free-running rollers 45.

A belt extends around pulley 42 and a further pulley 47 mounted upon shaft 48, also supported between plates 41, this shaft also carrying a further pulley 49 and a product-engaging wheel 5h. A belt extends around pulley 49 and a further pulley 51 mounted upon shaft 52, also supported between plates 41, said shaft also carrying a pulley 53 of larger diameter than pulley 51, as well as a further product-engaging wheel 54.

A belt extends around pulley S3 and a smaller pulley mounted upon shaft 56, also supported between plates 41, said shaft 56 again carrying a product-engaging wheel 57. Due to the difference in the sizes of the pulleys 53 and 55, it will be appreciated that the product-engaging wheel 57 rotates faster than the wheels 44, 50 and 54, thus pulling the product (now severed from the adjacent links) over the rollers 26 at a greater speed than heretofore, so that wheel 54 is necessarily provided with a ratchet coacting between the wheel and the shaft 52, said ratchet being conventional in design and indicated by the reference character 58.

The arm wheel assembly collectively designated 27 includes a skew gear 59 secured to shaft 23 and engageable by a further skew gear 60 situated at right angles and secured to shaft 61, which in turn is supported at the bottom'end within'bearing block 62 extending from the ad jacent bearing block 22. The shaft 61 extends upwardly and carries a circular flange 63 upon the upper end thereof. An extension 64 of shaft 61' extends upwardly from the flange 63 and carries a movable clutch plate 65, which is splined to the extension 64 andnormally adapted to exert pressure downwardly by means of spring 66 reacting between the collar 67 and a plate slideably engaged over the shaft extension 64.

The opposite clutch member 68 takes the form of a cylindrical cage 69, the base 70 of which is circular and situated between the flange 63 and the clutch plate member 65, the upper surface 71 of the cage also being supported by the shaft extension 64, as clearly shown in Figure 6.

A plurality of arms 72 are pivoted at equal points around the circumference of the surface 71 by means of pin 73, so that the arms overlap, as shown in Figure 2. In this connection, it will be appreciated that the arms are so shaped to clear one another, so that their outer ends 74 are adapted to move in the'saine horizontal plane upon track 75. Means for severing the strings between adjacent links of product are provided on the outer ends 74 of the arms 72 and consist of an outer jaw component 75 and an inner jaw component 76. The inner jaw component takes the configuration shown in the drawings and includes shank 77 together with an upstanding striker 78,'the jaw being adaptedto slide within the end of the arm in slots provided for that purpose. The other jaw 75 is provided with a pair of shanks 78 and an upstanding striker 79, situated on cross-bar 79 spanning said shanks as seen in Figure 14. Also shown in Figure 11 schematically, are means for opening and closing the jaws so that they can engage the constriction between adjacent links of the product, the opening flange taking theform of a single tapered member 80 adapted to pass between strikers 78 and 79, thus urging the inner jaw 76 rightwardly with respect to the drawings and the outer jaw leftwardly with respect to the drawings. This jaw also slides in the end of the arm in slots provided for this purpose. 'At this point, the arm is permitted to drop downwardly to engage the, product, following a path indicated at 81 in Figure 9, whereupon the strikers engage the closing flanges 81, which cause the jaws to close around the constricted portion between the links of the product.

A knife shaft 82 is mounted for reciprocal motion within, the portion 83 of the inner jaw, being spring loaded as at 8,4 to normally hold same clear of the aperture 85 defined by the two jaws in opposition. However, when these jaws have closed around the constricted portion between the links of the product, this knife shaft is adapted to move against pressure of spring 84 so that the knife blade 82 thereof passes into the aperture 85, thus piercing the string surrounding the constriction at this point. I

Reference to Figure 6 will shown the means to cause the reciprocation of this knife shaft and takes the form of a vertical shaft 86 mounted for rotation with bearing 87 and having a cam 88 upon the upper end thereof, said shaft and cam being rotated by the provision of a gear 39 4 engaging gear 90, which in turn is secured to the aforementioned shaft 61. From the foregoing, itwill be appreciated that cam 88 is rotated constantly, and is so positioned that when the arm engaging the product is in the position shown in Figure 2, the knife shaft is engaged by the cam 88 and is thereby reciprocated.

Reviewing the function of the portion hereinbefore described, it will be appreciated that if the cage 68 was constantly engaged by clutch 65, it would attempt to rotate constantly, together with the arm portion of the assembly, and it is prevented from rotation by means of a stop finger 91 (Figure 2) against which the next arm to be used rests, it being understood that the underside of the end 74 of the arm is also resting'upon the Wiener passing thereunder. slip and wear badly and in order to prevent this slippage I have provided a lug 68 on the side of the cage 68, riding on a cam track 68" and adapted to keep the cage clear of the flange 63 except at predetermined positions as follows. However, as this Wiener passes under the arm, the underside of the arm follows the contour of the Wiener and thereby drops downwardly when the constricted neck reaches this point between the wiener passing thereunder and the next succeeding one, it being understood that the jaws of the arm are being maintained in the open position at this point by means of the opening flange 80. The arm therefore becomes disengaged from the stop 91 and the constricted portion between the wieners starts the arms moving around. At this position the cam track 68" permits the clutch to engage and supply rotation to-the arms. The jaws having passed the opening flange 80, clamp around the constricted neck, as hereinbefore described, and when the arm reaches the position shown in Figure 2, the knife shaft 82 is actuated, thus severing or cutting the string surrounding the constricted portion. Immediately the arm passes the position shown in Figure 2, a further opening flange 80 passes between the strikers 78 and 79, thus opening the jaws, at which time this particular arm rides up track 75 and is lifted clear, thus releasing the product. 1

However, just prior to being lifted clear, the extremity of the arm passing under wheel 50 engages the hooked end 28' of the knife assembly 28, thus actuating same.

This knife assemblyconsists of a pair of jaws .94 pivoted as at 95 and normally maintained apart by means of spring 96. The inner end of the jaws are provided with knife blades 97.

The scissors or knife assembly are supported in the position shown in Figure 7 by means of a swinging bracket 98 extending between the pivot 95 and a supporting pivot 99. A bifurcated bracket 100 also pivotally supported as at 101, is pivotally secured at the, outer ends thereof at points 102 on the scissors. From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that when the end of arms 72 engages the hooked end 28' ofthe assembly 28, these are drawn across theconveyor between adjacent links against pressure of spring 103, which normally maintains the scissors of knife assembly 28 clear. of the conveyor.

As the scissors or knife assembly swings across the conveyor, projections 104 formed upon plate members 104', engage within cam slots 105 which force the knives or cutting blades 97 together, thus severing the wieners at this point. At this particular position, it will be appreciated that the forward Wiener of the two being separated is just being speeded up by the engagement of the forward end thereof under wheel 57. This stretches the constriction between the wieners at the point of cutting and causes the cut end of the skin to be stretched to facilitate the engagement thereof by the peelingwheel,

pins 105' normally are biased as shown in Figure .17 so that the projection 104 registers against the side'93- of This means that the clutch would assume the cam. As soon as the projection 104(which'fol1ows track indicated by dotted line 104' in Figure 17)reaches the pivot end of the cam 92, the spring 96 snaps the jaws open and the projection 104 contacts the side 105" of the slot 105 and disengages the hooked end 28' from the end of the arm. This allows spring 103 to swing the scissors back clear of the arms, the projection 104 passing the cam tip 92' against spring pressure of same against side 105" of the slot 105.

The aforementioned peeling wheel assembly collectively designated 24 includes a circular'flange 106' secured to and rotated by main drive shaft 23. Facing this, and selectively engageable thereby is a clutch plate 106 apertured centrally and situated concentrically around the end of stationary stub shaft 107, which in turn is secured within support blocks 108. Three pins 109 extend rearwardly from plate 106 through clutch casing 110, and are secured to arms 111 which extend inwardly and terminate in a collar 112 secured to a bearing sleeve 113 surrounding shaft 107. This collar is provided with pulley 114 keyed thereto and is free to rotate on shaft 107. The aforementioned clutch housing is mounted around a further sleeve 113' and is rotated, when clutch plate 106 rotates, by the pins 109 passing therethrough. Both sleeves 113 and 113' are supported for free rotation on shaft 107 by bearings 107'. Springs 115 surround pins 109 and react between the clutch housing and the back of plate 106, thus normally urging plate 106 into engagement with the flange 105, under which circumstances of course the peeling assembly would rotate.

However, it is necessary that this rotation only takes place at certain times and, consequently, a trigger mechanism is provided to permit engagement of the clutch plate 106 with the flange 106, said trigger mechanism being described subsequently.

A skin clamping mechanism collectively designated 116 is provided and for the purpose of this recitation, it will be assumed that the peeling assembly is stationary in the position shown in Figure 1. This mechanism consists of an upper jaw member 117 consisting of a stem passing within the clutch housing. The upper end of this jaw is provided with forwardly turned end 118, which also includes a cutting blade 119 on one side thereof. The lower jaw 119' is situated at the apex of a bifurcated member 120, which in turn is pivotally connected by means of pins 121 to the clutch housing as shown in Figure 4. This lower jaw member is also provided with a recess 122 in the upper face thereof corresponding to a projection 123 upon the underside of the upper jaw.

A pin 124 having a flanged shoulder 125 passes through the upper end of the lower jaw 119', freely through a slot 125' in the upper jaw and freely through a support 126 therebehind.

The stem 117 of the upper jaw extends downwardly within the clutch housing, the lower end thereof being engageable with part of the aforementioned trigger assembly collectively designated 127. This trigger assembly includes a scar 128 pivoted intermediate the ends thereof, the lower end 129 being engageable by the lower end of the upper jaw stem 117.

The upper end 130 of the sear is hooked as illustrated in Figure 5 and is adapted to engage the trigger 131, as shown, said trigger being pivoted as at 132 and having a lower forked end 133 spanning sleeve 113 and bearing against the aforementioned pulley 114.

When in the position shown in Figure 5, the scar 128 is engaging the trigger 131, thereby holding the clutch plate 106 out of engagement with the flange 106' against pressure of springs 115, so that the peeling wheel is in the position illustrated ,in Figure 1 with the jaw assembly in the uppermost position. Before describing the operation of this portion, reference should be made to Figure 2, which will show a belt 134 extending around pulley 1 14 and around a further pulley 135 carried upon shaft 136. This shaft also carries a gear 137, which in turn meshes with an idler gear 138, thus transmitting drive to a further gear 139 carried upon shaft 140, all of the shaft supporting the gears 137, 138 and 139 being carried within bearing brackets 141. Shaft 140 is parallel to a further shaft 142 and both carry rollers (not illustrated) around which a diagonally situated flat belt 143 extends. This belt 143 is adapted to rotate in the direction of arrow 144.

When a Wiener passes under wheel 57, it is urged forwardly thereby under the lower run of belt 143 (which is stationary at this time) until the forward end 145 engages pin 124 on the peeling wheel. The pressure of the end of the Wiener forces the pin leftwardly with regards to Figure 16 and at the same time pivots the lower jaw 119' rearwardly upon pins 121, it being understood that the stretched and extending skin 146 of the Wiener engages over the pin and over the lower jaw. Due to the location of the pins 121 the lower jaw pivots leftwardly and upwardly so that the projection 123 of the upper jaw engages the recess 122 in the lower jaw, thus clamping the skin 146 firmly therebetween and, at the same time, permitting the upper jaw to drop downwardly into this recess so that the knife 119 makes a small incision in the end of the skin to facilitate the peeling operation which has now been initiated.

The downwardly movement of the upper jaw 116 trips the sear 128, thus disengaging same from the trigger 131 so that the springs 115 move the clutch plate 106 leftwardly in regard to Figure 5, thereby permitting same to be engaged by the rotating flange 105. This rotates the clutch plate 106, together with the housing 109 and, at the same time, sets into operation the diagonally situated belt 143, which is engaging the upper surface of the Wiener. This rotates the Wiener in the opposite direction to the peeling wheel, thus causing the skin (the end of which is gripped between the jaws of the peeling wheel) to be peeled from the Wiener spirally, the Wiener also being urged forwardly by the diagonal situation of the belt, so that it passes onto a further conveyor 147 behind the peeling wheel assembly in a peeled condition. In this connection, diagonally situated idling rollers 148 take the side thrust of the Wiener moved by the diagonal belt 143.

As the peeling wheel approaches the uppermost position once again, a projection 149 on the upper jaw strikes a stationary cam 150, thus causing the upper jaw to be elevated and permitting the lower jaw to slide forward, at the same time the trigger 127 also strikes a stationary earn 151, forcing the trigger forwardly and thus resetting the clutch mechanism and disengaging the clutch from the flange 105, so that the peeling wheel assembly is once again in position to receive the next succeeding Wiener.

In order to ensure that the peeling wheel stops and remains at the correct position ready for the next Wiener I provide a further stop 152 having a recess 153 on the underside engageable by projection 154 on upper jaw 117 when same is in the upper position. As soon as this jaw moves downwardly as hereinbefore described, the projection clears the recess and the wheel is free to rotate when the clutch engages.

Since various modifications can be made in my invention as hereinabove described, and many apparently widely diflerent embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without departing from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A device for stripping the skins from wieners and the like comprising in combination a supporting framework, a set of idling rollers horizontally disposed within said supporting framework, a set of driving rollers disposed above and spaced from said idling rollers, said ien rsbeing; ad ptedr opasshetween s id sets f; r ller nd toy b moved re long y s id r ving oller said Q v e r r pn ng he skins offsaid weiners includes a peeling wheel assemblyjournalled forselective rotation within saidframework, a source of power: in. said frame.- work for said peeling wheel, clutch means in said wheel adapted selectively to engage said, peelingwheel with said source of power, adapted torotate same', the, upper perimeterof said peeling wheel being adiacent the: path of said wieners, a skin clamping and cutting assembly mounted on said wheehtrigger means: also on said wheel operatively connected to said skin clamping, and cutting assembly, and further means associated with said wheel adapted to be actuated; by the pressure of the. end of the Wiener being skinned whereby said trigger mechanism is tripped to initiate. said skin clamping and cutting means, said trigger mechanism also aetuating said clutch, thereby rotating saidpeeling wheel.

2. The device according to, claim .1 in which the drivingr rollers include 'a forward roller adapted to rotate at a greater speed than the preceding roller, thereby pulling the leading Wiener away from the next following Wiener peeling wheel revolves, said last mentioned means int cluding a pair of rollers supported substantially above said peeling Wheel, a flat belt surrounding said rollers, and means to; drive said belt, the lower run of saidbelt being situated at an angle to thelongitudinal axis of said driving and idling rollers, the said lower run of said belt adapted to engage the uppensurface of said Wiener being skinned thereby rotating same in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said peeling wheel.

References Cited inthefile of this patent V UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,3 9,3 0 Mar in -r-- e.-, -V- -..-r-.- 3, 19 5 2,463,157 Deitriekson V Mar 1,1949 2,670,498 Mpsby-- Mar; 2, 1954 2,672,646

Demarest etal Mar. 23, 1954 

